Unit 1: Geography of Europe

Unit 1: Geography of Europe

SS6G2. Explain environmental issues in Europe.

Dissecting the Essential Question:

Environmental issues: challenges to

maintaining a clean, healthy space to live

How have environmental issues affected Europe?

Acid Rain Nuclear DisasterAir Pollution




Germany

United

KingdomChernobyl,

Ukraine


SS6G2. Explain environmental issues in Europe. a. Explain

the causes and effects of acid rain in Germany.



SS6G2. Explain environmental issues in Europe. a. Explain

the causes and effects of acid rain in Germany.


Acid Rain in Germany• Emissions, mostly from coal-

burning power plants, combine

with oxygen and water and create

acid rain.

• Emissions are a result of: (1) cars,

trucks, and buses and (2) large

manufacturing companies that

produce cars, steel, and chemical

products.

• It destroys plants, kills trees,

pollutes waterways, harms

wildlife, and corrodes

architecture like buildings and

statues.


SS6G2. Explain environmental issues in Europe. b. Explain

the causes and effects of air pollution in the United Kingdom.






Air Pollution in the United Kingdom• In most industrialized countries like the United Kingdom, there are

many factories and lots of traffic, which causes air pollution.

• Air pollution from large factories is caused when smoke is emitted

into the air, which causes smog to cover the sky.

• Emissions from cars, buses, and trucks stay close to the ground and

contribute to low-lying smog.





Efects of Air Pollution in the United Kingdom• Health problems like asthma and pneumonia can be caused from

emissions.

• High air pollution levels make people sick especially more

vulnerable populations like children and the elderly.

• Crops (food) are harmed. Vegetables take longer to grow and

become more prone to disease.


SS6G2. Explain environmental issues in Europe. c. Explain the causes and

effects of the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl, Ukraine.






Chernobyl, Ukraine

Nuclear Disaster• Considered the largest

peacetime radiation

catastrophe that has ever

occurred on the planet

• Global environmental event

that contaminated land, water,

and air

• The most toxic ground is in the

Exclusion Zone (outlined in

bottom map)

• Radiation from the explosion

contaminated 40 percent of

Europe





Chernobyl, Ukraine

Nuclear Disaster• Safety experiment

• One of the reactors

began to overheat

• Reactor exploded

• Tons of radioactive

waste were released

into the atmosphere




Using Primary Sources• Each group will select ONE primary source for each element (a, b, and c)

• Using the Primary Source Analysis sheet, each member in the group will

contribute to Observe, Reflect, and Question





Station A: Acid Rain in Germany Primary Sources

Degraded

Sculpture

Dead and

Dying Trees

Helicopter &

Lime





Station B: Air Pollution in the United Kingdom

Pollution

Hotpot

Bus Exhaust Unregulated

Era





Station C: Chernobyl Primary Sources

Contaminated

Vegetables

Bridge

of Death

Helicopter

View

Documents

Unit 1: Geography of Europe